Public Urged to Return Unwanted Prescriptions to Police

COUDERSPORT – Police are urging the public to participate in a September 29th unwanted prescription take-back program.

The program aims to rid homes of unwanted prescription medications. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

Death from prescription medications exceeded deaths from automobile accidents for the first time in 2009 – a statistic which has not gone unnoticed in our local community – as several local youth have fallen victim to hospitalization and death from overdoses.

Last April, Americans turned in 552,161 pounds – 276 tons – of prescription drugs at over 5,600 sites operated by the DEA and nearly 4,300 state and local law enforcement partners. In its four previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners took in over 1.5 million pounds – nearly 775 tons – of pills.

The public is encouraged to bring their unused/unwanted medications to the State Police barracks on Denton Hill, along Route 6, from 10am – 2pm on September 29.

Directions are available by calling 814-274-8690.